In an excellent baseball game, one of those close ones that are already scarce in Cuban baseball, the Las Tunas team defeated Ciego de Ávila 2×1 in ten innings, at the start of the quarterfinals of the 63rd National Baseball Series between both teams at the Julio Antonio Mella stadium.
The game reached the tenth inning with a one-run tie, in a situation of “Sudden Death” (runners on first and second) and Yosvani Alarcón, who had tied the match at one with a home run in the eighth, hit the right field that He left the Avilanians lying on Julio Antonio Mella’s field.
First third
In this first segment of the game, the contenders did not hurt each other. The Tigres threatened in the first by hitting Liosvany Perez, but he was surprised at first and although there was then a hit by Ronaldo Castillo and Héctor Labrada reached first for the second hit, Jonathan Bridon’s hit only served to put out Castillo at home plate trying to score.
The Las Tunas also gave Duquesne two hits in the first but missed the one that gave them the big time. In the second the visitors threatened again with a hit by Alexander Jiménez and a walk to Maikel Caballero, but Liosvany struck out with teammates on second and third.
Second third
Neither of the contenders had anything to regret in this part of the game. Until that sixth inning, the left-hander had only allowed four hits and Dachel five. Pitching duels like this are no longer common in our baseball.
Last third
The Tigres opened the scoring in the seventh when Bridón began the inning with a cannon shot and the Las Tunas high command opted to extract the left-hander from the box and bring in his main reliever, Rodolfo Díaz, who after striking out Fernando de la Paz allowed a single by Alexander and although he then struck out Caballero, he could not prevent Osmany Linares’ hit to right field that brought the first of the game.
In the eighth, the Avilanian high command brought in Kevin Soto to pitch, who after getting the first two outs, allowed a home run by Yosvani Alarcón to left field. That inning was finished in the box by Luis Alberto Marrero, while in the ninth Yunier Batista came in to pitch.
There was a need to play sudden death and in that tenth inning Liosvany Pérez sacrificed himself to move Caballero and Linares to second and third, it was then that Ronaldo Castillo received an intentional walk, but Brito and Vázquez struck out. In the bottom of that inning, the ending already described occurred.
Supersonics
Bravo for Dachel: There is no doubt that Duquesne pitched its best game of the season against a hitting team like the Orientals.
Crocodiles also gave first: Matanzas began with a 7-1 victory against the favorite Granma.
Today Ponce is fireproof: Ediel Ponce will have his litmus test this Saturday when he climbs the mound to face the dreaded offensive group from Las Tunas starting at 6:30 in the afternoon.
A suggestion: The result of this Saturday’s duel does not matter, but these Tigres deserve that their fans fill the José Ramón Cepero stadium on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
